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<tlje Ccmtens SV?uevtiecr.
PUBLISHED EVKItY TUESDAY.
8UHCRIPTION Si.C.d l?KR YKAlt
BILL ARP ON CALLING A PREACHER.
THE PAJSTOK WITHOUT A FOL
LOWING.
The'.Methodw of the Several Denomi
nations In Getting Pastors and
Making Changes.
There is an old English rbyino which
says:
"A paBtor without any people
Is like a church without a steeple."
Dean Swift added two lines, which
said:
"A people without a pastor
Are like a dog without a master.''
This lite us bettor, for we huvo lost
ours and are now groping around in
Hoaroh of another oue. .Calling a.
preacher is always a perplexing uud i
embarrassing thing to do. What Is the |
best mode of procedure has long been
a vexed quostlon among tho churches.
There are somo objoctlona to every
method that has been tried, it is iiku
the election of judged of our courts; nine
times in my recollection tho mode of
their eleotion has been uhauged in
Georgia and now tho press and the peo
ple aro howling for another change.
But the churches don't change. They
think it bettor to endure tho objections
rather than abandon the faith and
formula of their fathers. Tho Metho
dists got their preachers from the
bishops and tho people havo no choice
in the selection, if they are disap
pointed tboy mako no complaint, for
they know that tho year will soon pass
and a change will como. The rotation
must go on. Thero Is no iuterregnum.
Thoy aro never without a preacher.
This platrjsaves tho people somo oiubar
rassmeut. It is hard upon the preach
ers and especially upon their wives and
children. No permanent abode; no
homo attachments; no vino and (ig tree;
no neighbors of long standing who havo
been truo and tried in sickness* und
health. By the time thoy begin to
know lb '?in -and to love them tho yonr
is gone and thoy in?st sopurute. Dr.
Johnson, the great philosopher, said :
"I have always looked upon it as tho
worst condition of man's destiny that
persons are so often torn asunder just
as they become happy in each other's
society." Methodist preachers' wives
and* childron aro the gypsies of the
ohuroh. I havo always sympathized
with them.
Another objection to the Wesley an
motbod is tho bishop's luck of informa
tion as to tho needs of the different
churches and tho qualifications of the
preachers to be assigned. Of course
ho has to consult the elders and theso
have their favorites, their college
mates, their likes and dislikes, and the
appointments somutiinos aro disap
pointments and causo heart burnings
that aro smothered, but folt. Wo seo
by the papers that Hov. Robert Toombfl
Dubose, a grandson of Dob Toombs,
was given six little scattered country
churches for tho coming year uud lie
bays he cannot take tho burden, for his
health is very poor and tho wintert
travel from church to church would
endangor his lifo. It looks like some
body ought to have known this before.
Somo forty years ago a Mr. Craves
wrote a sarcastic, unkind book about
this powor of the bishops over tho peo
ple, and plcturod a great Iron wheel re
volving horizontally and tho bishops
sitting on It In dignified ease, while
tho wheel rooted on tho bowed should'
ers of tho humblo preachers.
Tho Episcopalians get the preachers
from tho bishops, too, but they don't
rotato, noithor do thoy t'ot far away
from railroad.-, or civilization. They
are tho most devoted sectarians of all
Christian denominations?devoted to
their church, its venerable renown, its
rituals and traditions?devoted to their
bishop almost to idolatry. An iodiller
ent preacher is all tho samo to them as
the most eloquent divine, for thoy per
form as much of tho service as ho does
and only need him for a leader. If he
cun read tho ritual passing well and
administer tho communion he is alt
right with them. It is an admirable
feature in tho ritual of this church that
tho people both young and old take so
prominent a part in tho service. I
asked a crii < aj cynical friend one Suri
dayomorning whero ho was going in
such a hurry. "I'm going up to my
church to worship God?not man," said
ho. I rcud thoothor day about an old
fisherman whohad taken a great liking
to an Episcopal proachor who was'fish
ing in his neighborhood and he accept
ed his invitation to como and boar bun
prench In a neighboring church next
Sabbath. Ho put on his best clothes
and rode tho old maro to tho little
ohapel and took a front soat and tried
to be devout for tho first timo in his
life. Aftor tho servico was ovor he
took tho preacher by tho hand and
said, "Woll, parson, I promised to como
and I come. I didn't understand much
of what you was saying and doing, but
I ris and sot with you tho best I could."
I have always thought that thoro was
most too much rlsin and sottin in that
church and not enough in the others.
. We took a little city boy with us to
church last Sunday. It was his-first
adventure of that kind, but ho had boon
going to matinees. "Aunty, what ate
they all doing now," ho whispered.
"Thoy aro saying their prayors," she
said. So he bowed his head and re
peated, "Twinkle, twinklo little star."
After tho servico ho said ho dident
think It was much of a show.
Tho Baptists havo tho most demo
cratic method of calling a prcachor. It
is the very essenco of simplicity. They
call whom they pleaso and overy mem
ber has a voto. They keep him a? long
as it is mutually agrceablo and cith< r
party can dissolve tho relation at pleas
ure. Of coarse thero is always some
embarrassmont u'xmt getting rid of an
unwolcomo preacher, but thero Is one
way that Is generally successful. They
can starve him out. This mothod will
move him as ellectually as smoking a
rabbit out of a hollow t ree.
Tno Presbytorlan mode of calling a
preacher has much to commend itnfior
it is happily done, but is bosot with
embarrassmont in tho doing of it. Tho
call is strictly democratic for every
member has a vote, but after tho call
U made and tho preachor ordained as
pastor the prosbytory locks tho door
and puts tho key in itspockot and sayt,
now that you havo got him you must
keep him till I say no. It is liko tho
law of marriage and divorce. It is easy
enough to get married, but it used to
be qulto a difficult thing to got unmar
ried. I say "It used to bo." It Is not
much trouble now, noithor is it as much
trouble as it ueed to bo for a proachor
to get divorced from hisohurch. If he
f[ets tired he goes. If ho has a more
nviting call he gooB. If tho climate
does not agree with his health he goes.
If his salary is not promptly paid ho
goes, and I see in a lato paper that a
preacher says tho reason why ho re
signed bis pastorate and is socking an
other is that ho has finished hh work
in that community. That is what the
papor said. I would liko to seo that
church. Everybody sainted, I reckon,
and no outsiders to do sainted. Suroly
he dident say that. When a Presby
terian pastor has made up his mind to
eh hi ige hl? baso tho people had just as
well submit ss gracefully as they can,
for the preaiyteiy will ratify it. No
Oongregatlon.ehould try to keop an un
willing, dissatisfied pastor, and they
don't. I'reachoru are ju*t human and
elrcondition. The
I was ruminating about these things
because vre havo lost our preacher And.
aro looking around for another. He j
had a call to a bigger and maybe a
bettor place with a larger salary, and ;
be accepted befuro we hardly knew he
was called. Ho hadont finished up this
church und he know it, but I reckon !
<va* afraid that It would finish him up
if ho staid, for tho tl.net? wero so hard j
wo couldd't pay him promptly, though |
we did the best wo eould. 1 'readier ?
want their salary in tho bank, and it
ought to bo. I was present once when
a 'preacher was ordained. After the
coremony, wben the people went up to
give htm their hands and their bene
dictions, one old man said, "May the
Lord keep you humble; we will keep
you poor. Anu they did. For forty
years 1 have been looking for a country
church that paid tho prooeher a sum
eient'salary and paid It promptly. Pay
lug the preacher Is the unsolved prob
lem and has been ever since there wero
preachers. Deacons and stewards
ought to get to heavon, for they have
a hard time hero. Goldsmith tells us
of the vlllago preacher?
"A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich at forty pounds a year."
So great and good a man as Jonathan
Edwards after twonty-four years of
faithful service at Northampton was
voted out of his pulpit, and like an old
horso turned out to graza and die. Wo
tind a good doal of fault with the
preachers aud sometimes with their
wives and children, but after all they
are as a class tho best people we have
got and set us the best examples. How
Boon would we lose our morality with
out them. They havo their likes and
dislikes, and perhaps thoir favorites in
the ohurch, and bo do wo. In the old
times they preached for smaller sala
ries. Tho salary was a secondary con
sideration, but now It Is the first. Over
fifty yeard ago 1 went to school to an
Irishman who suddenly took a notion
that he would quit teaching and go to
preaching. He studied a year and
then applied to tho presbytery at Co
lumbus for examination and license.
Tho committee reported favorably and
ho was about to pass successfully, when
old Dr. Goulding, tbe moderator, loan
ed forward aud said : "I will ask tho
eandidato a single question. Brother
Gray, do you feel In your heart that tho
Lord has called you to preach tbe gos
pel to tho people?" "Yes," said he,
?'if they pay mo for it." Ho was not
lioeosed. Ho attached too much im
portance to tho pay.
The other day l met my friend Mil
ton Candlcr in Atlanta and asked him
about a young preacher, and he said :
"Yes, ho is a very promising man. I
expect you can got him. What salary
can you pay?" Whon I told him he
looked surprised and said : "No inoro
than that? I don't think you can get
him. Good preachers have gono up."
Thore are but few long-continued
pastorates in these later yoars. As
coon as a preacher gets a reputation ho
is called to a wealthier ohurch, and he
goes. It is easy for him to see that tho
way Is clear and It Is tho Lord's will
whon the salary Is increased. The pas
torates in England and Germany arc
life-long and there is no chance for tho
college graduates save to wait for thoir
death or superannuation or for new
ohurebes to bo established.
Tho Presbyterian mode of calling a
pastor has no fixed rules or u?ages
For awhile the vacated church is all at
sea, but by and by tho applications be
gin to come in and references aro given.
A correspondence is had and Inquiries
are made as to the applicant's charac
ter as a man and a preacher aud a
worker, and us to his wife and chil
dren. If it bo practicable he is invited
to come and preach a trial sermon and
mingle for a day or two with the peo
ple This is a hard experience on any
sensitive Christian man, for ho realizes
that be is on trial aud that the jury is
composed of perhaps a hundred men
and women to whom ho is a stranger
and who koo ft nothing of his innor life,
his emotions, his struggles aud misfor
tunes. Tho situation Is against him,
for people will naturally wondor why
ho doe* not stay whore he is if he
is tho right sort of a man. Maybe
ho does not wear well and his people
aro tired of him. And so he is a suspect.
Tho test of a preacher from a single
sermon and a day's acquaintance is a
very unfair trial both to preacher and
people. Hut what else can be done V
The i*C8ult not unfr? quontly Is thatone
or both aro disappointed and another
change is wanted. The church in split
up. There are majorities and minori
ties until finally the subscriptions fall
off and the preacher has to go or starve.
Money is the sinews of church prosper
ity as well as of war. Tho love of
money is tho root of all evil and the
lack of it is nearly as bad. It will chill
and paralyze the spiritual life of any
church. Hill ?RP.
A MOMENTOUS CRISIS OF THE WAR,
_ %
! RBMJNISOBNOG OF SHAItPSBUKQ
Htophen 1). Loo'fl Opinion as ait Ar?
tlllerimt ? Ho Was Sustained by
Smart and Jaokson,
On tho occasion of tho great Confed
erate reunion in Richmond Lieut. Gen.
Lee was tho orator of the day. At a
dinner given to him he related the fol
lowing remarkable story aboutGenoral
K. E. Lee never heretofore published:
"Tho battle of Sharpsburg, or Antie
tam, was ono of the bloodiest and
fiercest fought in tho four years of the
war between tho States. Gen. R. E.
Leo having defeated the Federal army
under Gen. Popo and drivon it to the
defence of Washington, the two armies
of MoGlellan and Popo wero concentra
ted there, and McClollan put in com
mand of both. Gen, L".o determined
to crc>ss tho Potomac Into Maryland,
capture Harper'*: Ferry and then con
centrate his army and tight MoCJlellan
His written plan of campaign in some
way ff.ll into tho hands of McClellan,
who rapidly moved bis army and at
tacked Leo before ho could concentrate,
at Sharpsburg, on tho morning of Sep
tember 17.
"Gen. L ?e had loss than -10.000 men
during the battle, while McClellun had
87.000 on the field. Tho losses wero for
tho Union army about 12.500 and for
the Confederate army 8,000 In killed,
wounded ami mis-dng. Tho two armies
fought from :: a. in. until after dark,
maintaining the same relative posi
tions: they bold at the beginning, and
faced each other all day. Ou tho 18th
of September Lue burled his dead with
out renewing tho battle. Buth armies
were pretty woll used up and exhaust
ed from tho terrible struggle of Sep
tember 17.
* # # # *
"Gen. Leo's hoadquarters wero on
the pike leading from Sharpaburg to
the Potomac, and about half a mile
from the town. About one hour or
more aftor night had set in the weird
sceno of tho groat battlefield had
changed, in that the firing had ceased
everywhere, and more open help win
being given to tho searching for dead
ones, and caring for the dying and
wounded, Gon. Lee had summoned his
corps and d i vision commanders to meet
him. For once during tbe day be had
some of his staff and escort about him,
and one by ono his eomulandors began
to nrrlvo, generally two to three horse
men with them.
"As thoy came up," continued the
narrator, "Gen. Lee inquired quietly,
'General, how is it on your part of tho
Uno?' I, too, had been summoned, and
was a quiet, Intensely interested ob
server, of one of the most remarkable
scenes and interflows 1 ever wltno8BOd.
To the inquiry A f^u. L'mgstroet, ap
I ^pressed, rootled to
tho efrtept that It Was a? bad a-i eould be1
t hit division had lost terrfbl
H. Hill ramo next. He said that his
divioloo was out to pieces; that his
loeseV bad been terrible, and he had no
trooi- V hold his line agalnttt the great
odds agatast him. He, too, suggested
er ?sing ttr^otomao before daylight.
Next oarue Jaokson. He quletiy said
that he had had to contend against the
greatest odds he bad ever met. He had
lost a good many ojlonels killed aod
several division and brigade command
ers wero dead or wounded, and his loss
es in tho different commands had been
terrible. He, too, suggested crossing
the Potomac before daylight. Next
came Hood. To Gen. Lee's inquiry he
displayed great emotion, seemed com
pletely unmanned. He replied that ho
had no division. Gen. Lee, with more
excitement than I ever witnessed in 1
him, exclaimed, 'Great God I General 1
Hood, where Is your splondld division
you had this morning 'r Hood replied,
?They aro lying on the field where
you soot them. But few have strag
gled. My division has been almost
wiped out.'
"After the opinion of all had been
given there was an appalling stillness
over the group. It seemed to last sev
eral minutes, when Gen. Lee, appar
ently rlBlng more erect in his saddle,
said : 'Gentlemen, wo will Dot cross the
I Potomac to-night. You will go to your
respective commands, strengthen your
lines ; send two officers from each bri
gade towards the ford to collect your
stragglers and get them up. Many
othors have also come up. I have bad
tho propor stops taken to collect all
the men who are iu the rear. If Me
Clellan wants to fight in tho morning I
will give him battle again. Go !'
"Tho abovo was in substance what
occurred and was said. Tho group
I gradually broko up, each going to his
command, und, if I read their counte
nances aright, they said : 'This 1b a
ra9h conclusion, and we fear that tho
Army of Northern Virginia Is taking a
great risk In the face of the day's bat
tlo, and the groat numbers opposed to
us.' Tho two armies faced each other
all the next day, (18th of September,)
tho guns unliu bored, tho lines of bat
tle and skirmishers In place, but every
one being careful not to let a gun go
off for fear, apparently, the terrible
slaughter aud scenes of tho day before
might be renewed? on<i army was
afraid, the other 'darson't.'
"During t,ho morning of tho 18th ol
September a courier from Gen. Lee's
headquarters came to my battalion ol
artillery with a message that Gen. Lee
wanted to 8< ? me. I followed tho cour
ier, and on meeting Gen. Lse he said :
'Col. Loe. I wish you to go with thU
courlor to Gen. Jackson and say tc
blm I sent you to report to him.' i
replied : 'General, shall 1 take my
artillery with mo ?' Ho said : 'No*
I'ustsay that I told you to report tt
dm, and he will tell you what he
wants.'
"I soon reached Gen. Jackson," aalt
the narrator. "He was dismounted
with but few persons around him. He
said to me : 'Col. Lee, I w'Bh you te
take a ride with me.' And wo rode tc
the left ?f our lines with but one corn
ier, I think. It was very quiet; ne
firing anywhere, and everybody appar
ently talking In an undertone, but lu
teutly watching any one else who wai
moving In any direction. We booi
reached a considerable hill, vory siml
lar to an Indian mound, but for its be
ing larger.
"We dismounted and Gen. Jacksot
said : 'Let us go on this mound or hll
and be careful not to expose yourjelf
for tho Federal sharpshooters aro no
far off. Tho hi'.l boro evidence of th<
lie reo fight of the day before. A bat
tery of artillery had been on It, am
there were wrecks of caissons, brokei
wheels, dead bodies and dead horses
Goa. Jackson said : 'Colonel, I wish yea
to take your glasses and car. duly ex
amlne the Federal line of battle.' I die
so, and satlrdled myself in witnessing t
v remarkably strong llao of battle, witl
moro troops than I know Gen. Leo had
After locating the different batteries
unlimbered and ready for action, anc
noting tho strong skirmish line in fron
of the dense mass of Infantry, I said t<
Gen. Jackson : 'General, that is a re
markably strong position, ami there ii
a large force there.' He replied : 'Yes
Col. Lee, I wish you to take fifty piecei
of artillery and crush that force, whlel
is tho Federal right. Can you do it ?
I ean scarcely describe my feelings ai
I again took rny glasses, and mado at
even moro careful examination. I a
once saw such an attempt n ust fail
Moro than fifty guns were uuliraboree
and ready for action, strongly sup
ported by denso lines of infantry ane
strong skirmish lines, advantageously
posted.
"The ground wua unfavorable for the
location of artillery on tho Confederate
side, which, to be effective, sboulc
movo up clone to tho F?deral lines anc
that, too, under fire of tho infantry ant
artillery. I disliked to say what 1 fel
and know ; I said : 'Yes, General, where
will I got the fifty guns?' He asked
'How many havo you ?' I replied
'About twolvo out of tho thirty I car
ried into the action the duy before
My losses wero groat in men, horses
and carriages.' Ho said : '1 ean fur
nish you with some.' I replied : 'Shal
I go for tho guns ?' 'No, ne?t yet,' he
replied. 'Col. Leo, can you crush the
F?deral right with fifty guns?' I said
'General, I can try ; I can do it if anj
ono can.' He replied : 'That Is not
what I asked you, sir; If I give you
fifty guns can you crush tho F?deral
right ?' I ovaded tbo question again
and again, but ho pressed It home. Fi
nally I said : 'General, you seom to be
moro Intont upon my giving you my
technical opinion as an artillery officer
than my going after tho guns and mak
ing tho attempt.'
"'Yes, air,'he repllod, 'I want your
positive opinion?yes or no.' I felt that
a great crisis was upon me, and I could
not ovade or dodge. I again took my
glasses and made another examination.
I waltod a good while, with Jackson
watching Intently.
"Finally I Bald : 'General, it cannot
bo done with fifty guns and the troops
you havo near horo.' In an instant ho
answered : 'Let us ride back, Colonel.'
( felt that I had possibly shown a lack
of norvc, and with considerable emo
tion begged that I might be allowed to
make the attempt, saying: 'General,
you foreed me to Bay what I did unwil
lingly. If you give 60 guns to any other
artillery officer I am ruined for lifo. I
promlso you I will fight the guns to the
last sxtromlty, if you will only let mo
command them.' Jackson was quiet,
seomod very Berry for mo, and said :
'It is all right, Colonel, everybody
knows you aro a bravo officer, aDd
would tight tho guns well,' or words to
that effect. We soon roaohod the spot
from which wo started, when be said :
?Col. Lee, go to Oon. Loe, and toll him
what has occurred since you reportud
tome. Describe our rldo to the hill,
your examination of tho Fedoral posi
tion, and my conversation about your
crushing the Federal right with fifty
guns, and my foroing you to givo your
opinion as an artillerist as to Its possi
bility.'
"with feelings such as I nover had
boforo, nor ovor expect to have again,
I returned to Gen. ire, and gave a de
tailed account of my visit to General
Jackson, olostng with the account of
my being forced to give my opinion
as to the possibility of suocess. I saw
a shade come, over Gen. Leo's face, aid
he said : 'Colonel, go and join your
command.'
"For many, many years I novor fully
understood my mission that day, or why
f was sent to Gen. Jaokson. Ween
Jackson's report of tho battlo was pub
lished I saw that he stated that in the
afternooa of September 17 Gen. Lee
had ordered him to move to tho loft
.with a view of turning tho Federals'
right, but he found tho enemy's numer
ous urtlllory so judiciously posted In
thole front and so noar tho river as to
render *uoh an attompt too hazardous
to undortake.
tacking, to turn tho vj mv'a rltrbt ou
the 18th. It appears that G. n. J - .<? or
dered Gen. Jack on to renew the battio
on the evening of the 17th at d to turn
the enemy's right, and ?) .??'.< m said
that it could not bo done. IV also ap
pears from Stuarts report, and the lu
cldent I relate, that Gen. Leo reiterated
the order on the 18th, and told Gen.
Jackson to take lilty guns and cru?h
the Federal right and mako tho at
tempt. Jackson haviDg reported
against such attempt on the 17th, no
doubt said if an artillerist In whom
Gen. Lee had confidence would say
the Federal right could be crushed
with fifty guDB he would make the at
tempt.
"I now have tho satisfaction of know
ing that the opinion which 1 was forced
to give on the 18th of September had
already boon given by Jackson on the
evening of the 17th of September, and
that tho same opinion was reiterated
by him on the 18th of September, and
confirmed by Gon. J. E. B. Stuart on
the same uay, (September 18.)
"I still believe that Jackson, Stuart
and myself woro right, and the at
tempt to turn tho F?deral right on tho
afternoon of September 17, and also I
on September 18, would havo been un
wise.
"The incident shows Gon. Leo's deci
sion and boldness in battio, and Gen.
Jackson's dollcato loyalty to his com
manding gonoral, In convincing him of
the lnadvisability of a proposed move
ment, which ho felt It would bo hazard
ous to undortako.
*'Tho three Inoldonts so far as they
relate to myself are correct In every
particular, tho speculation as to others
may bo slightly colored, but l do not
think tho description overdrawn.''
The Passing ot u Hero.
I The Baptist Un'o i, Chicago.
Seven times siuoo tho beginning of
tbo present. Oubuu insurrection the
death of Antonio Macoo has been re
ported. Seven times has Spain exu't
ed. Seven times have the lovers of
"Cuba Libre" mourned. i\nd well
they might, for as Louis Xi V said of the
state, the great leader nullit bavobaid
of the Cuban uprUtog: "lam there
i volution." llib courage', his magnetism,
his rugged nature, bib heroic self
sacrifice, his uncompromising patrio
i tism, his implacable hatred of the
enemy, and his stern, solemn purpoeo
> ?all those things drew men to him and
. bound them for lifo or death to the cause
ho loved. The story of bis lifo reads
i llko a romance, or rather ultra-ro
> munce. Ho was born forty-eight years
[ ago and spent the_early years of his
r boyhood working for tho family. As
? ho drove the mules along tbo lonely
> mountain roads, ho saw slaves, toiling
5 ami keenly felt the shame of CubaV
degradation. At the beginning of the
j first Cuban insurreotlOD in 18(>8 oc
curred an incident that was the turn
j ing point in his career. Returning
j home with bin father one night, be
, found the plantation in ruins, bit:
mother tied to a tree, six of his broth
} era lying bleeding and senseless, and
bis two sisters biding, half-dead, in
tho bushes?tho work of a band ol
_ Spanisli guerrillas. Tho next day tht
, father called 1 is sons together and re
quired them -til to register an oath
never to lay down their arms until
Cuba should be free. That oath, like
j Hanuibal's numquam in amioitia cum
i Uomanls oro, became the ruling princi
ple of Antonio Maceo's life. E.--r
? during tho first insurrection thi
? Spaniards had begun to droad bis v. rj
name, aud at its close his real sorviot
j for "Cuba Libre*' had only jiibt In
- gun. For tcu years bo quietly planned
aud dreamed. Ho gave up bis whob
j timu to tbo study of war. He evoc
went to Webt Point incognito and bo
j came a hostler, while in secret ho v a
, tho most attentive student at the neu
. demy. In 1888 bo began to make plaut
for tho present uprising, which wei
net matured uutil early in 1805. From
j that time to this he has been the ton oi
t of tho Spaniards and tho hope of the In
j surgents. It may be that tho seventh
. story of his death is, like the others,
9 a baseless rumor, but in life or deuui
Antonio Maceo will always be the ' ,1
s of Cuban patriots. As wo read ?. t
j 6tory of his career, and tho story Ol
it tho struggle in which he has engaged,
9 it is hard to believe that it is a Btorj
, of this day and age. Soon tho Christ
t maschimi a will be ringing, and Christ
mas anthems swelling, and myriadb ol
j voices singing, "Glory to God in tin
. highest and on earth peace, good will
I to men." But "discord on the mu- <
. falls aud darkness on the glory," when
tho harsh, discordant sounds of wui
j aro thundering in cur ears, "Oppros
j siou and bloodshed in Cuba, bloodshed
j and oppression in Armenia !" God
j husten tbo day when every nation o
j tho globe may join heart and soul in
k tho angels' song that greeted tho coin
j lug of the Prince of lYuoe !
j ?.HO' u rm ?
! ?Of all women sho is most to be
- pitied who lias a hesitating admirer,
? who boggles about, popping the quns
i tion. Be is worbo than a hold one.
- How perfectly satisfactory was the
I conduct of that bravo old Puritan, who
> rodo up to tho door of tho houso of tin
s girl of his choice and having deal red
? her to bo called out to him, said with
' out circumlocution, " Rachel, tho Lord
? hath sent mo to marry theo!" when
i tho girl answered, with equal prompt!
I tudo and devoutnuss, " Tnc L.?rd'b
I will bo done !"
- Gallium is worth $100 000 a poun I.
It Is a silver-White bard metal dis
covered In 187") It is somewhat mal
leablo and capablo of receiving a fine
polish. It is remarkable for its low
melting point, melting when hold in
tho lingers.
?An untamed swallow, which had
ltd nest in a farm near Chetwind, in
Shropshire, was caught and taken in
a cage to London, whoro it was releas
ed. It returned to its oust in 80 minute.,
having accomplibhed tho distance of
146 miles at tho rate of nearly two
milos a mlnuto.
?The homo of Mrs. Mary Lease, the
noted populist politician and lecturer,
will b<5 sold under tho shorifl's ham
mer. January 6, to satisfy a $1,100
mortgage. If the money I* paid b -
fore that time, tho house, of c m.
will bo ro-loasod.
?The war with Mexico commenced
April 24, 1810, and ended July 4, 184S
haviog continued two yoaru, two
months and ten days. Tne number ?<f
TJ'iited States troops engaged was
112,210.
?Whon Morocco's sultan decides to
marry, tho whole country becomes
shrouded in gloom, as every Buhjt?c
must contribute a wedding present.
Tun sultan is about to take a second
wifo, and much discontent Is reported.
?Spain baa more sunshine than any
Other country in Europe. Tho yearly
avurago in Spain is ,'1,000 hours ; that
of Italy. 2,300: Germany, 1,700; Eng
land, 1,400.
?Of tho 04 who graduatod in mrdl
olno recently, from the Unlversltv of
1 ill IV tli), thrOO Were wo ne.n, two of
thorn boing in tho honor roll and one
heading the Hat.
?A negro preachor who bus been
oarrylng on a protracted meeting, was
asked how ho got on wlt'> the meeting.
" First rato," mild ho ; " 1 made 70 con
victs the first night."
?In York county, Mo., is said to b >
a tree that grew up through the hole
In tho contro of a grindstone, and new
boars the stono aloft, hanging, a i it
were, about tho nock of the troo.
? Evorybody is familiar with the
musto of tho katydid. It; h? tho male
America's First Christ raaa.
BY FRED MARON COLBY.
_ i
December, one hundred and |
twenty year* ago, was a gloomy
month to our country. We were in
the midst of the llevolutiou, und
the war all seemed to be going
against us. Washington's army was
constantly retreating before the
British, who often tracked them by
the blood of his soldiers' feet on the
frozen ground.
New York, Philadelphia, Trenton
and Baltimore were in the hands of
the foe, and the American cause
seemed lost. It was indeed a cheer
less time, and almost every body's
courage was gone but Washington's.
" General Washington, how long
shall we flee ?" exclaimed one of
his oflicers, in anguish.
" We will retreat if necessary,"
answered the patriot calmly, "over
j every river of our country, and then
over the mountains, when 1 will
make a las^ stand against the ene
mies of my country.
The brave leader was not dis
couraged, aud while retreating be
fore his enemies he was busy think
ing, too. lie saw, when others did
not see, a chance to strike a blow
for the liberties of his country.
At Trenton, on the Delaware, a
thousand Hessians were encamped
in winter quarters. The Hessians,
you know, were German soldiers
than the English had hired to tight
against the Americaus. They were
j rough, brutal, carousing fellows,
and very much disliked by our sol
' dies.
Uhristmas eve came, ColJ, stormy,
and wild. But the lies ians, in
their warm houses, with I 'ie tires
roaring up the big chimneys, did
not care for the cold. Tiny kept
Christmas in the ohl-fashioi ed Ger
man way, and were feasting and
drinking all night long. H >w they
would have laughed if any one had
told them to look out for Washing
ton I
All that night, however, Washing
ton and his ragged army were cross
ing the Delaware. It was a terrible
undertaking. The river was full of
floating ice, aud snow and hail were
falling. It was so cold that several
of his soldiers froze to death. But
. the army all crossed at last, and in
i the cold gray dawn of the winter
morning marched toward Trenton,
j The Hessians were sound asleep
[ after their night's wassailing, little
s deeming that the enemy was march
" ing upon them. But the American
J drums awoke them from their
s dreams. " To arms ! to arms 1"
i cried some of their oilicers. But
" it was too late for any united resist
'. ance. Their own cannon and mus
kets were captured, and were turned
against them, and the battle, if it
" may be called such, was soon over.
A thousand Hessians surrendered to
, the victorious Americans.
As the sun burst through the
' gloom and mist of that twenty
lift h of December, do you not think
that Washington's heart was glad :
i The victory of Trenton was hit
Christmas gift to America.
Remember the Poor.
"At Christmas tide the open hand
Scatters its bounty o er sea and laud
And none arc left to gri vc alone,
For love is heaven and claims its own.'
This is the season when every one
bles.sed with an abundance, should
remember that where ever there is a
human being in need there is an op
portunity for kindness, and the time
when Christinas greetings should be
moulded into loaves. When we
pass the imitations of homes near us,
iu which are crowded little hungry
children (the poor man's blessing)
hungry in more ways than one, then
little bodies stunted, their mintl and
moral natures unawakened, it seems
such an easy way and so convenient
to lay the blame to capitalists, to
the tariff or currency, but away
deep down in our hearts does it not
occur to US that we should bear a
part of the blame ; does it not occur
to us that in the face of stich misery,
we as individuals should curb our
indulgence that we may help to feed
the hungry, clothe the naked and
teach the ignorant. The Pharisee,
both ancient and modern, escapes
the practical work by confronting
us with some puzzling questions,
yet it seems that in some way those
that have more than they need,
ought to make brighter the lives of
those that have so little. Some one
says, "there is a too common habit
of giving indiscriminately," which
may be true, but who would not
rather give indiscriminately occas
ionally than never to give at all.
There is something wrong some
where, when in this land cf full and
plenty, where we have "such great
overproductions," we have so many
without homes, without work, with
out proper food ; and our first duly
is certainly helpfulness to the help
less in our own neighborhood. By
self-examination we will see if there
is not more ?e can do for the poor
that are always with us; let us bring
Sunshine to'some desolate hearth,
and in the reflection of its light we
Will find the "Peace and Good Will."
? Words awl Works.
A FLOWEIt Clock.?Gardeners
cl dm that it is quite possible to so
arrange llowers that all the purposes
of a clock will be answered, it is
said that in the time of Pliny forty
six llowers were known to open and
shut at certain hours of the day,
and this number has since beeu
largely increased. For instance, a
bctl of common dandelions would
show that it was f>:30 in the morning
and 8:150 at night, respectively, for
these (lowers open ami shut at the
times named, frequently to the min
ute. The common hawk weed opens
at eight o'clock in the morning, and
may be depended upon to cIobc
within a few minutes of two in tho
afternoon. The yollow goat's-beard
shuts at twelve o'clock noon, abso
lutely to the minute, siderial time.
The sow-thistle opens at 5 ?A/M.,
am! closes at 1 1:12 \. M. The
Highest of all in Leayeninf Power.? L*t? t U. S. Gov't Report
ABAQVUrWKKK PURE
A Confederate Christmas.
Christmas day, 1864, was the
Confederate Christmas par excellence.
Outside supplies of all kinds had
disappeared, and whatever comforts j
were provided were of home manu- '
facture. The Confederate dollar
was then worth just two-ceute in
gold, and flour was $000 a barrel;
sugar was $30 a pound; salt, $1 ;
butter, $40, and beef, $35 to $40 a
pound. Wood sold at $100 a cord,
and coal was not to be had, save in
a few of the cities, owing to scarcity
of transportation. The day was
Sabbath, which in itself would have
tempered the usual merriment.
At a country residence below
Richmond, Va., and not far from
the lines of the contending armies,
a party of seven?ladies and gentle
men in all the strictest Southern
sense of the term.? ivere assembled
at dinner. The mansion had beeu
proverbial for its hospitality befoie
the war. Now the welcome was as
cordial us ever, but the board was
spread in accordance with the nec
essities of the times. At the head
of the table was placed a large ham,
worth $300; at the foot was the
last turkey the farm could boast,
worth $175. The vegetables con
sisted of cabbage, potatoes and
hominy, worth, at u reasonable cal
culation, $100. Corn-bread was!
served, Hour having been unknown
in this house for months. The
meal of which it was made was
worth $80 a bushel, and the salt
that seasoned it $1 a pound. De
sert there was none, but in its place
the hostess provided a coarse black
molasses that was worth $60 a gal
lon. The same kind lady, as a rare
i treat for her guests, brought out,
with a glow of pride, a steaming
urn of real tea?not sassafras?
(worth $100 a pound) at the same
. time warning the company that they
must expect but one cup apiece, as
i this was the hist of her store. Af
i ter this there was " coffee," made
from sweet potatoes cut into little
bits, toasted brown and ground into
. powder. Such was a Confederate
1 Christmas dinner in the last winter
of the war. From this superb re
. past the scale descended to army ra
. tions?a bit of salt pork, corn-bread
I and sweet potato coffee without
sugar.
The ladies' toilets the writer can
i not venture to describe, but they
were largely made up of " honie
i made " articles in the fashion pre
? vailing at the commencement of the
war. The tresses of one were fust
* eued with " Confederate hair-pins,"
i made of long black thorns, with the
heads tipped with sealing wax and
the dress was of simple home-spun.
With the exception of the master of
the house, whose age compelled him
to pursue the ways of peace, the
gentlemen were in uniform, two
being officers and two privates from
' the neighboring lines. The coun
, try road beyond the farm was lined
with slowly moving trains of army
k wagons, and occasionally a small
. party of cavalry would pass by at a
, sharp trot. From the windows of
s the mansions, thin, light clouds of
, smoke could be seen rising from the
camp fires on the lines, and now and
! then the dull thud of a heavy gun
would break the stilness of the
. scene, and a fleecy cloud would rise
over the tree tops and melt away in
i the air.? The American.
THE LAURENSBAR.
b. Y. SIMPSON. 0. D. DARKSDALE
SIMPSON & BARKSDALE,
Attorneys at Law,
LAURENS, SOUTFJ CAROLINA
Special attention given to the investi
gation of titles and collection of claims
B. W. BAI.fi. I. W. HIMKINH. W. W. HA I.I.
BALL, SIM KINK & BALL,
Attorneys at Law?
I.aukkns, South CAROLINA.
Will practice in all State ami (Jnltod
States Court. Special attention given
collections
VV. H. MARTIN,
Attorney at Law,
Lauubns, - South Carolina.
Win practice in nil Courts of this Stale
A 11 cm ion given to collections.
J. T. JOHNSON. W. It. KIOHKY
JOHNSON & tUOHEY,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW.
OrrioB?-Flomlng 'Ooruer, N ?ethott
side of Public Sqnnro.
His Christ in as Sermon.
An English clergyman, author of
"Untroddeu Spain," who must have
listened to a considerable number of
Christmas sermons?his own and
other men's?declares that the best
ono he ever heard was preached by
a woman?and in three words!
In my little parish, under the
sweep of the Sussex Downs, I was
walking swiftly home one night,
buffetted about by the gray clouds
of driving rain that the tierce sou'
wester swept landward from the sea,
when a poor, helpless, aged woman
asked me for a "trille for a night's
lodging."
Curates are supposed always to be
poor. It was Christmas-time, and I
had just parted with my last six
pence at a lonely hamlet, where work
was scarce. Still 1 could not leave
my stranger in the street, so I asked
her to come to come with me to my
lodgings.
She shambled along through the
mud, with her streaming clothes and
clouted boots; and we entered my
little room. My thoughtful land
lady had made my table ready. A
plate of hot toast was standing on
the fender; the kettle sang vocifer
ously, as if impatient to be Used; in
front of the lire stood my slippers,
backed by an easy chair.
To my surprise, my poor, worn,
haggard companion raised her drip
ping hands, and hurst into tears,
with the words, "Oh, what luxury!"
That was the best Christinas ser
mon I ever heard, and the only one
1 have never forgotten.
WANTED!
On January the 15th.
tvventy-four salesmen to
travel through the coun
try and sell Pianos, Or
gans and Sewing Ma
chines. Also six boys
who can play Organs.
We will pay liberal sala
ries, furnish horses and
wagons and pay all ex
penses.
Greenville, S. C.
-THE?
Liquor, Morphine, .
Opium and
Tobacco Habits.
Thousands in ihe Threes of Torture.
Prompt, decisivo action can save the
Many already saved prove that there .?
way.
Are these thedavs of freedom? Is every
body out of bondage? Would that w#
could answer, Yes, everybody's free I
Hut in this enlightened age hundreds o
thousands of men are in the clutches of a
tyrant worse than any in history, unable to
tight their way to liberty, impotent ? o break
their fetters.
When once the habit gets its grip on a
man it destroys his nerve and will power,
robs him of 1hhoi.Iv means of defense. His
life is Hnpp'-d out ol turn, his manhood de
stroyed, his brain deadened, and he be
comes a wreck ol a man?existence a liv
ing death, himself an object of disgust in
stead of love and affection to those who are
dear to him.
Is there no hope ? There is?even after
years of slavery a cure without failure
guaranteed.
? omc and bo treated and if in n week or
two you do not like gaining weight, feel
big new manly vigor and making vour
loved ones happy, you can quit and there
will bo no charge No iiure No pay!
HEXT IVV PERRY". IVL D
Columbia, Laurens an I New
berry R. R.
Northboun "outhbound
i im um Stations. ptn am
4 13 10 110 i olumhia 1 W 11 15
4 eo 10,02... Leaplmrt 4M 11 28
3ft4 1)40 Inno 4 08 11.'17
3 40 0 27.. Baientino 6 26 114s
3 42 9 lft White i; .ck ft 3.5 11 ihi
3 34 8 84 Cbu lain 6 66 12 02
3 24 S30 i.ittl nmntaln 6 10 1213
3 21 8 82 SiigliH 0 22 12 1
3 12 soo ... Prosaerity ?41 12 29
2 5'? 7 30 . New In ry_70S 1243
2 17 7 0f> .Jala a 7 3.5 1269
2 44 0 6ft Gray's buns 7|47 10ft
2 40 0 40 Kinard 7 ft7 1 10
2 3ft 086 Ooldvillu K.10 117
2 29 0 22.... Dover .. 8 23 1 2ft
2 2ft 0 I ft Clinton .8 30 1 30
F K. SCHUMPERT.
A trent at FwnayeH**
Who is "Will Whitener ?
He is our Fashionable Hair Cutter and Shaver,
?>-IN BENOCLLA HOTEL/
Youth is full of euthusiasm and
activity. Consecrate them to Christ
)r they will be wasted in folly or
will drown you in dissipation.
?There is an age of agonizing
thirst ahead of the man who in
dulges his appetite for compliments
overmuch.
( -IIA ULKS ION A WESTERN OARO
Una Railway Co. " Augusta and Aahe
vtlle bhou Line." Schedule in effect Ueo
1st lsyn __
Lv Augusta. 9 40 am
Ar Greenwood.12 17 pm
Anderson. 7 30 pm
Laurens. 1 15 pm
Oreonville. 2 65 pm
Olenu Springs.4 05 ptn
Kpartanburg.3 00 pm
Sau.da .5 2' pm
lleiulcrsonville. ..5 5 pm
Aeliovillo.?5 46 pm
I v Asheville.
7 SO pm
12 10 am
V oo'am
10 30 am
10 2o am
.... ? 2 > urn ....
Spariauburg.114>am i 1 pm
tireuuvitlo.1155 am I t)l ym
Laurents.... .. t 15 pm v ' pin
Anderson.10 25 am .
Urcenwood. '2 28 pm 7 c
\ r An,.usia. 6 05 l m 12 2 ?
Ar Alken. 080 pm
am
to ATHENS,
ATLANTA
wkst
ANli ?.? UNTS
i.v Ureenvilie.n no an
Ar Kale,|di . 1 SO am
Norfolk.7 ? l am
Petersburg.ii 00 am
Richmond .?: 40 am
Lv Uruenville. ?? 0 pm
Ar Liberum. 2 8j am
Abbeville. ' -,'! am
Allions.;> am
Atlanta.<> 2? an _
Lv Atlanta........... 910pm
Aiheui.'i 40 pir
Klberton. . .12 45 am
Abbeville.12 45 am
Ar Oreenvllle.jP 4ft ?n _
i/iostj coiiueetiona av ^r^c * jo.- ;;>.
points on S. A. L. and U. AO. Railway,
it Bpartanburg with Southern Itairwaj
for Intormatlon relative to i okem i
Kohedules, etc., address
.1 t'.HAIW. U?n. !'?:?.
Atnr :
.1. s. (JureIon, Agant.O. H. Speight*
A ??? ? Orsonv tie. 8. O.
ind
l*?
SOUTHERN RAILWAY,
riKDMON 1 A i
i.isa
t?ujrnsod in
in kitjoi n?.? i.. luse
inoi- Tnbtiic
Kurt libuuud,
Lv. A i Ittutn, C. 't'.
" At liiutn, tt. T.
" Xoivriisn. ..
" Buford.
" Oahi<!Hvtn?.
" Lulu.
Ar. C<?rne)ln.
Lt. att. Airy .. ..
" ToCCOa .
" Weotminator
" f f-uoc-a.
" Cent rnl ... .
" Grreouvllle
Bjpsrlanburg,
m GFaifpovs.
" Blackaburg .
" King'n Mt.
?? OhkIuiiIh.
Ar. Charlotte
" Dan villa ..
Ar. Rlnhmond
Ar.Wntdilogto1
" Baton'* PRR.
- Philadelphia
" Now York .
Southbound.
V?s. |K<it.Ml
No. 87 No. 8fl!
Daily.| l>?llr. "?Hy
Lv. N. y.,P.R, K. 4 80 plfl 15 a
" l'lit ? :>ilolphin < 0 65 pi 8 AO a
M Baitimor?... loft) i>' ? ?2 a
" Washington. 10 43 i> II 16 a
Richmond
I tonvill*
Chat-toil*
Oastonli*. .
Is ii Aft. .
I ti1 k dmrg
OnlVtioya .
Si rtnnhurg
Utvtni villa..
Ccii i rnl
" Westminster
" T.vi
" M'.Airy
? Cornelia.
" Lulu . ...
?? (i:Uin'i\in*
" ghttord
" Nororoas.
Ar. A: n:i:n, IC. T,
Ar. Atlanta, <:.T,
'2 00 a 12 5J
c u n 80
u .,5 n lu 13
. j10 Mi
10 40 a 11 BJ
.... Ill 4J
? 112 M
W..1T
r.x.
f? i
11 :rl
lv> _--s
l 15
1 >&
2 18 p
8 13
u ai
l A)
?i 06
4 m
4 55
U 65
? ' C 10
2*i
n is ?j
?-' 2 yj
1 l( Oi
1 p
I ?Ojl p
i .-' 'i
8.
? 4-.' . j
6 :.. i>
t l ?!
I ?1. ,
7 >;
I 7 0! 1
7 ?
?i
, 8.)j ;i
SO. p
I 9 t.t p
ii ? so ?
Vl ?
?N"
>n tni
t i
I, ian
6* Or
: !: .n>
? rt;
1 an
"A" iv. in "P" p, in. "M" noon
No?.?7h.h\US?Daily, WashlaglV
wpstrrn V**tibule Luultsd. TiiraiigVi
ttesplng <"> * >etwesn S#w York md
lbaiiH, via \Vaalilaglon, Allnuwi a t
ery. y<\ u 1 eiweeti r?sv Toih fttd '?^?,
vtAWaHhlnpion, Atlanta ab ' dlrin iijthuili
man dleepiug carsIxitwcen Newtorkai
Orleana, In couueiUIon with th* "??J?'.!??!
li?Kt" i-ni b for ^un KraaH^o, > ??
iaarinu .lot ??? ?'.?>? Tnwui? unii Hum < ?* .
re ? aiiK, leav* Now OritaiiH V?? .n?-? ?? I
?at irdays. Thla trala *!?'.?^arrif-a 1*.?' i
Augusm fme'ilng *?m 1 t'twtou OMIVll n ?1
Chariot t a. Kirnt ,'las? I boron ch 'ar? <?? ?? h.-*
b?!lwn?:i Wuhhington ami Atlanta Ln. v ;. -v.-a
aerveall iura lit en ronta.
No?. b."i and 8fl?Unitad State i rr>M daft
runs solid uetwaen Washington nil 0**
lean,, v;i> ' i-atliarn Railway, A. &, Yt P. v R ,
and Ii. .*j IS It. ft., being oortiiione 1 of tmt i?*
ear and enaohen, tnrontn wttiviul ehttiii;? : -^f
Satwi./'MS of nil ctnaic?. Pal man oi- <*>;'a
rawing room sleeping hatwpou t- - ,
Ington Htid Oalvoslon, T0x.i iia Atlnuta, *w
**hj ? ran
Orinniisnnd Soiitharn Paoiflu Hnliv. a;. : V
drav. tlif room ?lcoilug cur, l*t *-t><*u .V <u?r
Clt.v mill Atlanta 1.?>hvi-.;< Washington nrtx
Cattirdny, a tonnm ataeping oar ^ ''i*
tbrongh lietweon Wa*hi gw>n and ftan I un
o1bc<-> with ml ehaiige
lies II and 18?Pmhtt'in steeping car* rtatw f*n
Rich ai ind anil Danvihe.
Tbo Air i I ,o Pel to IraiM, Noa. 17 n:W. 1 V-v
t?? ?? ? Atlanta iu... > .?. ??a.. Baliy aX >.>(
Sunday.
w. n o: kxn. j yt cci/P,
6>c.'I ftttpt., Trail. ' V-.
Waal Ingtou, D. a Wanhb ? i. '
IT. A. Tl UK, 8. H. BARpVi IC,
Oen'1 Pass. Ag Li ASa'tUnaTPnva Mi '
wawiingtoUa O. O. A uji ? <t
SOUTHHRN RAILWAY.
raenvffM
JadMuM
JrBf
Lv. .Kith
CvT Baft_.
Ar. rj?u?i . .1?
Erl Abi ?r?j?
algas
" (4: <i'r?.<xt
?* Kiao+y.Kts,.
Lv. N?. ? ?V-i-ry
" Pt.^aairrtf.
A?. Columbia
A?. Charioaaaa.
Tw>p, 7 V'n.Lf, .
"livw.ii ??tv "-~
? v; i u i.i v ??
??ein, l ? .??
l? ;?on! <?? .
10 bha K .-. v.. "
10 64a
11 aiftpA, ??rt?Urf
U?? S;?|,Lv dvinr-Mfi?,?,^
JL?!!r '
/ Oup Ar__^_ Ajeaa?h'a.'
"*?," av at -A. ^ ???.
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